choices // clifford (on hold)

two

As Ashton approached the door of the tiny dorm room. He immediately knew Calum was throwing some stupid party, with his stupid friends who were always too loud and played music that had too much guitar in it. Ashton stepped into the room, the music in Calum's half of the room a setting too high.

Ashton groaned inwardly as he threw his textbook along with his folder on his desk, grabbing the candle that his mom had bought him as a graduation present and taking it towards the bathroom as he heard Calum's friends whispering. Ashton sighed as he set the candle down on the tub, closing the door and sighing out.

No loser, why would I go on a date with you? kept echoing in Ashton's head as he stripped down, turning on the tub and sinking in as Calum's loud laugh resonated through the hollow door. I have a boyfriend, a tiny voice in his head said as he inhaled the vanilla aroma.

"Ashton!" Calum said through the door. "Come and hang out with us they all really want to meet you. My girlfriend too," he said quietly. Ashton sighed running a hand through his sandy blond hair as he stepped from the tub wiping his face off with a towel.

Why be rude? He could have fun, meet some new friends and maybe stop feeling like as big of a loser as he was. What's the worst that could happen? "Sure, just let me get dressed really quick," Ashton said through the door.

He pulled on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt opening the door, as five smiling faces shown through the door. The girl sitting next to the boy with whitish blond hair stood up, moving toward him. She hugged him pulling away and smiling. 'I'm Iris," she said as the two blond ones stood up. "I'm Luke," the one with the more gold blond hair said.

"And I'm Michael," the whitish blond one said. Throwing his hand up in a wave and a slight smile, Ashton said, "I'm Ashton."

"Sorry Ashton I never introduced you to my girlfriend," Calum said standing up. Ashton turned, his breath catching in his throat as she smiled slightly, taking a small breath and putting her hand out. "Colette," she said, her voice strained slightly.

"Yeah I know," Ashton said in a small whisper. "What?" Calum said. "N-nothing," Ashton stuttered. "I'm Ashton," he whispered shaking her hand with a firm shake. Colette nodded as she took a step back into Calum's grasp.

"Ashton do you drink?" Calum smirked. "Nah not really I-"

"Oh c'mon Ashton," the one with the whitish blond hair said. (He still couldn't remember whether or not his name was Michael or Mitchell, he was too busy paying attention to Colette). "It's just a few beers, you can handle it right?"

"Maybe he doesn't want to drink Michael jeez," Iris said rolling her eyes. Michael took a sip of his drink taking a deep sigh and planting himself next to Luke. "So are we gonna be classic boring college kids, order a pizza and get drunk?" Colette said rolling her eyes and picking at her nails.

"That's kind of what we were planning on babe," Calum said kissing her cheek and chuckling. Ashton winced slightly looking down and shaking his hair in front of his face. What was so special about Calum? What did she see him that she didn't see in Ashton?

"I already ordered the pizza a few minutes before we got here, I should be getting a call when-" Iris said just as her phone lit up. "Speaking of the devil," she said standing up and answering the call. Luke followed her form with his eyes as he sighed, noticing Michael doing the same thing.

Iris hung up the phone with a small smile as she slipped it into her back pocket. "I'm going down to the lobby to go pick up the pizza so I'll be right-"

"I'll go with you," Michael said quickly standing up and stumbling slightly. Iris raised an eyebrow and tilted her lips up into a smirk. Michael thought it was adorable. "What makes you think you can sustain the possibility of walking to the lobby. There are stairs, you may die," she said crossing her arms over her chest as she continued to smirk.